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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bisaya are an indigenous people of
northwestern Borneo, Malaysia, concentrated around
the Beaufort district, Padas river in Sabah and Limbang river in
northern Sarawak state.
There are other related tribes called Dusun in Brunei. As early as thirteenth century Bisaya
was the first community to accept Islam as their way of life.
Nowadays, most Bisaya are Muslim and few are Christians. The first
Bisaya leader is known as Awang Alak Betatar or Muhammad Shah. They
are distantly related to the Visayan of the
Philippines, though a comparison with Cebuano Bisaya vocabulary shows that
the language bears few similarities, most of which are more related
to Bahasa Malaysia than PhilippineBisaya. Such similarities may be due
to the standardizing effect and influence Bahasa Melayu had over not just the
Bornean Bisaya but also all other ethnic languages spoken in
Malaysia. The same could be seen in Germany, where Standard German has influenced the
vocabulary and grammar of the regional dialects.

One of their main festivals called Babulang is celebrated annually in Batu Danau
near the Brunei border. More photos of the festival in June 2006
showing their black traditional costumes and their buffalo racing
tradition are available on flickr at [1]

Contents

Prehistory

Bisaya’s people are indigenous that had been settled in Borneo
thousand of years ago. The Bisaya’s was a people whom terrified,
bashful, loved, feared and respected by the others within this
island. They are skilled in agriculture such as paddy planting,
ginger, sago, local ginger, tapioca, banana, yum, pepper, coconut
planting and so on. They also hunting an animal and to bread some
of the animal such as chicken, duck, goose, goat, buffalo, cow and
many more.

In the river or sea, bisaya people are skilled in catching fish
and they can hold their breath under water without drowning. One of
the tragic history happened a few hundred years ago when Awang
Kuyoh, sons of Awang Alak Betatar was killed and drowned by the
Sulu people and their took his wife back to Sulu island. Legends
have the bisaya sailor called Awang Semaun and his crew sailed
around this island start from Klias Rivers and he tied a
handkerchief in front of the boat. When he arrives at the starting
point, the handkerchief was torn and that’s how this island was
called Handkerchief Island or Pulau Sapu Tangan or Pulau Peraca in
local language. The Imperials Colony called it as Borneo. From
Spanish records, this island was known as Borneo during the first
visit of the Spanish sailor Magellan.

On the thirteenth century, the Bisaya was lead by a leader
called Sultan Awang Alak Betatar bin Bonian Mas Kayangan. In 1363,
he converted in Islam and changes his name as Sultan Muhammad Shah.
Sultan Muhammad Shah had appointed his only son as a leader of the
Peninsula Klias and he is known as Sultan Awang Koyoh bin Sultan
Muhammad Shah. In 1370, he migrated to Barunai and spread the
teaching of Islam to the people. Sultan Muhammad Shah became the
first Muslim ruler in Barunai.

Sultan Awang Koyoh bin Sultan Awang Alak Betatar government was
situated a long the Klias river and until now it is still known as
Kota Klias. He died on 1621. The successor of the throne was his
son Sultan OKK Setia Pahlawan Awang Kassim bin Sultan Awang Koyoh.
He had leads the people until 1855. After he died, his son Sultan
Tunku Laxamana Awang Ishak Ismail Jalil bin Sultan OKK Setia
Pahlawan Awang Kassim runs the government. Before he died on 1961
and he had left a will to his successor among his great
grandchildren to keep the secret until now.

THE BISAYAS OF PADAS (BEAUFORT)- BACK GROUND AND
LEGENDS

The popular legend of the Bisaya origin as described
Bewsher(1958),Sandin(1971) and Hussain & Newman(1987) goes as
follows:-

Museum Brunei Version

In 1370, Ma-ho-mo-sha [Maha Mokhsa] was a King of Barunai
[P'o-ni]. A Chinese mission commanded by Chang Ching Tze dispatched
to P'o-ni in 1370 (9th month, 3rd year of Hung-wa), found the king
in a burned out capital with just 1,000 inhabitants. He sent a
tribute mission to the Emperor of China in August 1371.

Some versions of the Syair Awang Semaun trace the foundation of
Brunei to fourteen saudara (brothers and first cousins). Other
versions say they were all sons of Dewa Amas of Kayangan, a
supernatural being who fell to earth in an egg at Ulu Limbang, and
fathered them by fourteen different aboriginal wives:

• 1) Patih Barbai [Marbai] [Peti Barambai], Paduka Sri Pangiran
Bendahara Sri Maharaja Permaisuara. The official version states
that he became the second Muslim ruler as Sultan Ahmed - see
below.

• 2) Awang Si Mawn [Semaun], Pangiran Temenggong.

• 3) Patih Mambang.

• 4) Patih Tuba.

• 5) Patih Sangkuna [Peti Runak].

• 6) Patih Manggarun.

• 7) Patih Malakay.

• 8) Patih Pahit. m. Si Lampang, a captured Banteng.

• 9) Damang Sari.

• 10) Patih Sindayung.

• 11) Damang Libar Dawn, Juru Shahbandar. Emigrated to Java,
where he lived for nine years. m. a Javanese lady, by whom he said
to have had issue, one son and one daughter (?):

• 14)Awang Alak Betatar [Umuk Batata]. The official version
states that he became the first Muslim ruler as Sultan Muhammad
Shah.

Paduka Sri Sultan Muhammad Shah[1363 - 1402] , Sultan of Brunei,
a younger son of Dewa Amas of Kayangan, by an aboriginal lady. He
was chosen by the saudara to become the first ruler. Constructed
his palace at Pirasung. Legends have Brunei founded some 29 reigns
ago by 14 brothers of heroic stature and semi-divine descent,
according to a Monograph of the Brunei Museum Journal. The
exploits of the 14 founding heroes of Brunei are recounted in a
very lengthy poem called the "Sha'er Awang Semaun.". Awang Alak
Betatar was not the eldest, but was chosen to be their leader
because of his intelligence and good looks. He was installed Sultan
of Brunei and he remarried with the daughter of the Sultan of
Johor.

Tales from Limbang

The popular legend of the Bisaya origin as described
Bewsher(1958),Sandin(1971) and Hussain & Newman(1987) goes as
follows:-

The legend tells of an immigrant family living in the North of
the Borneo Island. In this family were seven children, 6 boys (Peti
Barambai or Pati Barabai, si Garamba, Peti Garamba, Peti Runa or
Pati Begunak, Smaun or Si Maun and Alak Batata or Urak Betatar or
Lok Batata or Awang Alah Bertabar) and a girl (Siti Duyah or Duri
or Bunga Sunting). A boat race was used to determine who was to
become the Rajah of Brunei.

This race was won by Alak Betatar the youngest brother. He
became the first Rajah of Brunei and later converted to Islam and
became Sultan Mohammed, the first Sultan of Brunei. Peti Barambai,
the eldest brother, became the Raja of Java. Si Garamba settled in
the Limbang area and became the ancestor of the Bisaya’s. Peti
Garamba settled in the Tutong(Brunei),Peti Runa in the Kinabatangan
River (Sabah) and Smaun in the Birau River(south of Tutong). Siti
Duyah married a Chinese named Awang Sunting (or Ong Sum Ping) and
settled near Mount Kinabalu (Sabah).

BISAYA ORIGIN AND ETHYMOLOGY

Several theories were put forward by several researchers regarding
the origin of the words Bisaya:

a) Beyer H.O. in 1926, Hester E.D. in 1954 and Harrison in 1956
suggested that the name may have come from the empire of Sri Vijaya
(Sonza, 1972). However, in 1960, Eugene Vestraelen (a Professor of
Linguistics at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City) cautioned
that linguistic derivation of VIJAYA would not be BISAYA but BIDAYA
or BIRAYA.

b) In 1960, John Carol suggested that the name originated from a
culture hero named Sri Visaya. Derek Headly (1950) recorded that
Bornean Bisaya legend which says that the Sultan of Brunei, upon
seeing the beautiful land of Bisaya, exclaimed Bisai-yah! meaning
How beautiful!

c) Suhaili A. Shatar (1961) recorded from Laksamana Tengku Ishak
OKK Setia Pahlawan Awang Kassim, the word Bisaya came from the
sentence of ‘Mabisa Iyo’ which means ‘that guy looks so great and
handsome’. Later the pronunciation change into ‘bisa iya’. In the
end, comes the word ‘bisaya’.

d) Sonza (1972) asked the question, " Did the Bisayas of the
Philippines originate from the Borneo? So did anthropologists and
historians for many years.

e) Even the visaya in Philippines did not considered themselves
as the indigeneous. They believe that the migration of the bisaya
people from borneo was the one who helped them to protect their
lives. ‘Si lapu-lapu’ was the guy who responsible of the revolution
in Visaya island. It was believe that ‘Si lapu-lapu’ was sent by
the Borneo Rulers at that time to free the people of Visaya Island
from their cruel king. Lapu-Lapu was the king of Mactan, an island
in the Visayas, Philippines, who is known as the first native of
the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization. He is the
Philippines first national hero. He also can call as 'Datu
Lapu-Lapu'. Lapu-lapu is the word from grouper fish in the
Philippines. Datu or datto is the title for chieftains and monarchs
in the Philippines.

f) On April 27, 1521, When Ferdinand Magellan "discovered" the
Philippines and landed in Cebu, he ordered Filipinos to honour the
king of Spain. Warriors of Lapu-Lapu refused his demand, defeated
and killed Ferdinand Magellan at the Battle of Mactan.

g) In 1970, there were more than 10 millions Bisayas estimated
to live in the Philippines compared to about 14 thousand in Sabah
and 3312 in Sarawak.

BISAYA BELIEF & CUSTOMS

The majority of the Muslims Bisaya lives in Sabah and some of them
live in Sarawak as a Christian. Though they treasure their cultural
tradition of medicine, marriages, death etc., they don't actually
practice it now, possibly due to the influence of the religion.
Even though they would call the traditional medicine men or women
to perform rites in times of illness, many now would go to the
clinics available around their places for treatment.

BISAYA MUSIC, ARTS &CRAFTS

The traditional musical instrument consists of Kulintangan, gong,
and many of small gongs (cf. Asmahs claim that the Bisaya are
supposed to be the best gong musicians). It is as if somebody just
beats the gong and everyone-men, women, young and old just starts
to dance. All these instruments are used in the wedding ceremony,
celebrating very important people etc. Besides the musical items,
the Bisayas are able to make good weapons for various purposes.
There are andiban, sumpit, parang, keris and knife.

The Rumbia's leaves can be woven into a roof, the women are
trained by their elders (women ) to inherit the rumbia-weaving
skill. The Rumbia'leaves known as roun rombia in Bisaya dialect.
Meanwhile the process of weaving the Rumbia's leaves known as
manyarut. The woven Rumbia's leaves need to be dried under the sun.
These leaves would last for two to three years,
environment-friendly.

The branch

In the past, the branch of Rumbia tree used as wall for a house or
hut ( in the farm ). The branch can be used to build chicken home,
fence to guard the plants ( vegetables etc ) and the dried branch
used as a torch ( to spread the fire; to clear the land for
agriculture purpose ). Meanwhile, skin of the branch can be woven
into basket, mat, and others. Among the well-known woven stuff from
this Rumbia parts are saging (a kind of basket carried at the back
of a person), lalibu (a flat woven-basket useful during paddy
harvesting), and topau (a mat used to dry the paddy seed).

The Trunk

We start from the upper part, here we can get a punoh, this part is
a delicious 'vegetable'. Can be eaten raw, sweet and soft. The
punoh served as main menu (vegetable) during wedding reception
among Bisaya community. Then, sago (staple food of Bisaya, young
generation didn't agree with this) is extracted from the Rumbia's
trunk. The skin (palunoh) of Rumbia tree can be used a firewood,
floor for hut, and wall too. The trunk can be used as a bridge, it
is a strong trunk and last longer. During flood, my brothers and I
used to build a boat from the Rumbia tree. I missed those days, we
are adult now. In case of emergency, you can get water from the
roots of Rumbia tree. It tastes water, of course.

(This article was contributed by Malaysia Government officer.
E-mail : sasniaga@hotmail.com . It was extracted and
summarised from Dr. Shafiq's article in Sarawak Museum Journal)

Beaufort
history

Beaufort, Sabah; name was given in commemoration of the first
English Governor called L.P. Beaufort. He had arrived here on 1889.
Beaufort town situated nearby the Padas rivers to replace the Kota
Klias government of Borneo Thrones. The relocation of the
administration center had been approved by the current rulers,
Sultan Tunku Laxamana Awang Ishak Ismail Jalil in 1890s.

Borneo history (Sabah)

The name of Borneo was the first known as Bonian among the
Bisaya people. When the native bisaya converted into Islam together
with their leader Awang Alak Betatar, the word was change from
Bonian into Bornian due to the mother tongue of the preacher which
is came from Taif, Arab Saudi. At the same time the native people
had to pronounce Borneo until the Malaysia Day in 1963. Today it
was known as Sabah.

Sabah
history

In 1959, Tun Datu Haji Mustapha Datu Harun met Sultan Tunku
Laxamana Awang Ishak Ismail Jalil in a place called Kampung Takuli,
Beaufort, Sabah. He was to convey a message of freeing the Borneo
from British Colonial. Tun Mustapha ask Sultan Laxamana Awang Ishak
his view regarding the new name of Borneo. The Sultan Laxamana
Awang Ishak told Tun Mustapha that his ancestor Awang Alak Betatar
always mentioned the word ‘Mongoi dasasabah’ every times he wants
to go to the sea. The meaning of it, ‘mongoi dasasabah’ means going
fishing to the sea whereas the island was surrounded by the sea and
had a lot fish and food. Tun Mustapha had offered Sultan Laxamana
Awang Ishak to form Sabah Rulers but he rejected it because he is
too old. According to the record his age is almost bicentennials.
He prays someday his grandchildren will embrace all the people with
the information whenever it needs and may them guidance by Allah
the Almighty. The census of Bisaya is at least 1,000,000 people
throughout Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan) and West
Malaysia. Most of them lived in Sabah.